Help with cold sores

I haven't been tested (getting swab taken tomorrow) but I've always had small sores pop up in the corner of my lip now and then. They never caused much drama and they are more like a mini pimple or just red rash, never a blister.

Now I gave birth 3 weeks ago and have only kissed my newborn once because EVERYTIME one of these things disappear I only get a couple days and another little red mark or pimple shows up on or near my lip. Now I've had it! I'm sick of it. I'm not stressed until one of these bloody things show up.

If you suffer from cold sores, how do you prevent them? I wouldn't mind the odd one but this is a joke.

my daughter has been getting the same thing I must find out if I can give her lysine? Apaprently i have HSV type one (which is the coldsore virus) and 90% of people do have it) But I have never had a coldsore! (touch wood)

I get cold sores when I get sick. I used to also suffer from Impetigo quite badly when I was in primary school. When I get really sick the impetigo flares up on my nose and upper lip.When I feel the tingle I ice it straight away and numb it for half an hour then I put zovirax on it and do it every 1-2 hours and it shoots it down very quickly.

I can't take lysine as it does nothing at all for me. Zovirax isn't being ingested so should be fine just before and after applying wash your hands thorougly.

I get what I think are atypical cold sores... They're however always across top and bottom lips and bilateral... It's usually like a rash and they don't breakdown or crust (unless I'm pg when I get them) It's a bit odd. I understand however that most people who get cold sores don't get the classical nasty looking cold sore.

I only ever get them when I've been sick with a bad cold and are run down. Usually they go in a few days. When pg they are worse and last longer.

For me getting enough rest when I'm sick seems to keep them at bay. I suspect the birth/hormones and dealing with a newborn are affecting you immune system and that's why you're copping them now. I'd try to get as much r+r as you can(bloody hard). Those cold sore creams can reduce the length of an episode. Your GP could check you for thyroid and iron levels just to check if you have a medical issue causing you to be run down other than post birth knackeredness.

I had an episode recently and did my best not to expose my toddler to it which was bloody hard. She hasn't come down with them and it's almost 2 weeks so we were lucky. It must be so hard not to kiss your newborn.

I use lysine too and my GP said fine to use when BF (it's just an amino acid) and also give to my toddler, who unfortunately gets one every time he gets sick! Trying to keep him off my six month old is a nightmare!I also used the Compeed patches - they don't do much for healing but it made me feel like I was doing something to help stop flaking all over my baby.

Lysine is helpful, some recommend to take a decent dose when you are getting a cold sore rather than take it all the time. If you do take it all the time be prepared when you stop you may have an outbreak.I would also take zinc and vitamin C as your immunity is probably lowered after the birth of your baby. You can get a simple zinc tally test done at a nutritionist or naturopath. I find Virasolve much better than Zovirax, unfortunately for me my coldsores love Zovirax! Get to know your triggers, nuts, eggs and chocolate along with being run down/stressed are common ones

An ice-block on my lip when I feel the tingle sometimes wards them off, but after 20yrs of dealing with them the only thing I have used that I know will make it disappear in 3days is dabbing on perfume...I think it might be the alcohol in the perfume??

I use a combination of treatments, including Lysine tablets, Zovirax (or the Blistex version which is the same but a lot cheaper), tea tree oil, ice, and the anti viral tablets which are now available over the counter rather than with a script.